Macedonian Orthodox Church Celebrated First Anniversary of Autocephaly and Formal Full Unification

OCP News Service – 06/06/2023

Ohrid- Macedonia: Macedonian Orthodox Church – the Ohrid Archdiocese celebrated its first anniversary of Autocephaly on June 05, 2023, at the ancient church of Saint Sophia in Ohrid. The celebration was marked by Holy Liturgy that was led by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and Archbishop Stefan of Ohrid. The liturgy was co-celebrated by bishops of Serbia and Macedonian.
This also marked the full unification of Macedonian hierarchs who were under the jurisdiction of Serbia. This also ended 55 years old disputes between Serbia and Macedonia. Final decisions on the united hierarchs will be taken at the Synodal session that will be held on June 20, 2023.

Patriarch Porfirije during his address said:
“I am filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit that we are here today, in glorious Ohrid, gathered in this ancient, beautiful Orthodox church of Saint Sophia. I am also happy because of the occasion, which is one year since we celebrated the true and real Pentecost here in Ohrid and in Belgrade, which means we celebrated the birthday of the Church of Christ, and of course on the occasion of granting the Tomos on autocephaly to your local autocephalous Church in Macedonia”.

Patriarch also noted that this liturgy at St Sophia Ohrid by a Serbian Patriarch was after 100 long years.

Source:
OCP News Service